And now… The Infamously Short Author's Note: You people are still reading this?! Thank you! You make me happy beyond imagination!
You've read the note. You've wasted a few seconds of your life, so thank you for spending them on my fic. It is most appreciated.
Disclaimer: Pokemon will never belong to me.
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The day was slowly ending. Like the setting sun, the excitement gradually began to die down. One by one the kids left the pizza shop, until the three victors were left in silence. Agility was nodding off while Leon squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.
He cleared his throat. "Um, Gerald, I really have to be on my way…" Gerald only opened up his third box of pizza, completely ignoring Leon. He planned to make the most of the free food and had plenty of stomach room left.
Still, Gerald did attempt conversation between bites. "So you're off to Violet City, eh?"
"Mm-hmm…" Agility leaned back in her chair. There were plenty of things on her mind and a bed in the Pokemon Center with her name on it.
"I am too… I hear it's beautiful. There's a landmark there… Sprout Tower. They say it's the stem of a huge Bellsprout." Leon looked uneasy. "I believe I was once eager to explore it. Today might've swayed my opinion of the place though…" He patted Thorn's pokeball, earning a small laugh from both Agility and Gerald.
"You know, if you're going on a pokemon journey I can help you out." Gerald started, licking his fingers. "Do you know anything about Falkner?"
Agility yawned. "…Is he important?"
"He's the gym leader." Gerald responded sternly. "If you're going to face a gym leader, you may want to know his name when you barge in to declare your challenge. And what about his pokemon? Or how the gym's set up? Do you know the recommended experiences your pokemon need to have in order to prepare them for anything?"
Agility had gone to sleep during Gerald's small rant. "Zm-zzz…"
"Why do I bother…?"
"Um, would you mind giving me your number?" Leon piped up, holding out his Pokegear. Gerald sighed and entered in his digits.
"I'm always here if you're confused about something." Gerald crossed his arms and looked extremely smug. "And if I don't know, I know people who do. Yeah…"
"Yes, but of course…" Leon inched away. Gerald was scaring him again, and the now snoozing Agility was has only chance to escape. "Say, why don't I carry Sleeping Beauty here back to the Center?"
Without waking up, Agility punched Leon in the face. Hard. "That could leave a bruise…" Gerald winced.
"As with my youthful Pichu friend, it is a painful yet rewarding experience. I will learn from my errors. Eventually." He toppled over, momentarily dazed. Gerald decided to polish off his pizza and have Theo drag them to the Center if Leon didn't wake up soon.
Leon walked out of Agility's room in the Pokemon Center. Meowth padded beside him, his claws clicking softly on the floor. The cat caught sight of Pyra strolling through the hallways and muttered a curse under his breath.
Leon was surprised Meowth had spoken, much less heard such a word. "Eh? What's wrong?"
"If it isn't the Cat and his trainer…" Pyra grinned, not able to hear Meowth's mental screams for her to leave. "Where are you going? We've got a fight to finish!"
"I'm afraid we can't stay for long. Always on-the-go!" Leon smiled back.
"You can't leave without finishing the battle. Come on, I'll take you here and now!" The Cyndaquil let her flames ignite.
"Don't you ever sleep?!" Meowth said. "We have to go, and that's final!"
His trainer tried to get his attention. "It's not going to effect our time that much, Meowth-"
Pyra sneered. "Ooh, is the kitten afraid?"
"Go fight a Chansey!" Meowth spat back. "C'mon, Leon! We've gotta go!"
Leon nodded. "Uh, yes. That's right… Sorry Pyra, maybe we can do a rematch some other time. Tell Agility I said goodbye, okay?"
The heat from Pyra's back was spreading to the entire hallway. The air behind the Cyndaquil seemed to ripple due to the sudden rise in temperature. "Okay, if you won't fight me, then where's the Chu?"
"Not fighting you." Meowth's eyes narrowed. "Pyra, back off. I'm warning you."
"Some warning from a kitten who won't fight!" Pyra rushed at him. "C'mon! You're gonna fight me until I see the Chu or that Weed you caught!"
"That's it! I'm tearing you a new fire hole!" Meowth's claws extended. He began to use his own tackle attack. They ran at each other fearlessly, but when they collided, Pyra was the only pokemon left in the hallway. She tackled nothing but red energy.
"H-hey! Bring that Cat back out!" Leon quickly reattached his pokeball to his belt. He was quickly growing nervous.
"Sorry, Pyra! We really should have a rematch at a later time!" Leon spoke quickly and ran away even faster. He jumped over Pyra's head, melting the bottoms of his sneakers as he went through the heated air.
Talon watched Leon run by. "L-Leon? You leave?"
"Hi-nice-to-see-you-BYE!" And he fled through the doors. Pyra followed close behind, but didn't leave the Center.
"Coward!" She yelled after him, snorting and turning away. "Let's go, Talon. We'll need rest to fight trainers hopefully stronger than that guy."
Talon jerked back in shock. "He leave? But-"
"Hey, are you going against my orders, Second-Trained?"
"…No, Firebr-… Pyra." Talon watched the doors swing shut, Leon escaping into the night. "Hoot…"
She cast a sad, disappointed look before following Pyra.
Outside, Leon stopped running when he reached an old playground. He sat on the swing set and released Meowth. His pokemon growled in frustration. "What's the big idea calling me back? I swear that rat needs a good slash to set her straight!"
"Meowth!" Leon scolded. "Will you calm down? Take your anger out our next pokemon catch!"
The cat complied. "I'm sorry, Leon… It's just that stupid little-"
"Where did you learn how to insult pokemon like that?" Leon asked him.
Meowth sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Where did you get that black eye?"
"Touché." Leon laughed. "Don't ask, don't tell!"
"You're learning!" They left Cherrygrove joking and laughing, onwards to Violet City. But as they went, Leon turned back to the Pokemon Center with a look of regret.
"Agility…"
Meowth called from behind him. "Hey, are you coming or not?"
"Have patience!" He replied, and then gave an apologetic smile to the city. "Agility… I'm sorry…"
Agility's eyes opened to the white ceiling of the Pokemon Center. Instinctively she glanced at the clock someone had been kind enough to supply her with, although she could not see the blurry red numbers. The battle against Thorn was replaying in her head. She remembered everything—Thorn's attacks, Pichu's injuries, Gerald's usefulness… And Pyra.
"Cool it, Pyra! You're gonna lose if you keep charging!" Pyra growled and turned away, ignoring her trainer.
"I'm not losing anything, especially not to this!"
Pyra had completely disobeyed her orders. It was bad in the final battle, but Agility had lost control of her before the match against Pichu even started. She turned on her side with a soft groan. Maybe she was just tired. Maybe it was because Pyra was a Cyndaquil (fire pokemon were considered one of the hardest types to control). Or maybe… Maybe… Agility pulled a pillow over her head. She didn't need to hear how bad she was at training, but the voices were inside her head. They couldn't be stopped.
"Why me…?" Agility almost drifted off to sleep again, but there was a crackling sound… Paper. She ripped off a note taped to her blanket.
It's Leon. Agility, I have some news since you were asleep. Prof. Elm has been calling PLEASE talk to him as soon as you wake up!!! You'll find Gerald's phone number on your Pokegear. Call him if you have any questions about Pokemon, battle, etc. And before I forget, that was a great battle yesterday. I could never have captured Thorn if it wasn't for you and your pokemon. I promise to train him well, and don't you worry about me getting hurt. You and Pichu more than make up for any pain I'll receive. (Ha ha) Anyways, I'll be gone before tomorrow, so a pleasant journey to you!
P.S.: I wish you the best of luck in Violet City!
"He's gone?!" Agility rolled out of bed, twisting the blankets around her legs. She fell in an embarrassing heap on the ground, thrashing, angry she couldn't break free of the covers. She wasn't able to calm herself down either—her rage led her to screams and curses that got a Chansey's attention.
"What's going on in here? Agility, you okay?" Chansey asked, knocking on the door.
"Hey!" Agility cried out in desperation. "Stop Leon! He can't leave yet!"
Chansey hesitated. "L-Leon? Who's- You mean that guy that helped defeat Tho-"
"Never mind!" Agility wrestled free and made a frantic run for the door. It opened fast enough to catch Chansey by surprise, the pokemon recoiling in pain as the door slammed in her face.
"Wait for me!" Chansey called after the disappearing trainer.
Agility raced out the Center door, letting the cold wind hit her full blast. She stared hopelessly into the night, Leon's name at her lips. Chansey ran up behind her, out of breath and energy.
"What's wrong?" Chansey asked at last.
"I lost the one person I could talk to, I've completely lost faith in my training abilities, and I faintly wonder why I haven't run my sorry butt back home." Agility muttered, sinking to her knees. She clutched at her hair, threatening to pull it out in clumps.
"Wait… You haven't even gotten to Violet yet, and you're giving up?"
"I thought the 'wonder why I haven't run home' phrase confirmed that."
"But-But you just defeated Thorn! That's a feat no trainer accomplished before! And your Cyndaquil tells such tales about your adventures...!"
"My adventures consist of catching a Hoothoot." Agility pounded the road in frustration. "You know, I wish I'd never come out here! It's fine to have everyone in the hometown tease you but to mess up a new life in Cherrygrove?!"
"Come now! Everyone has a rocky path now and then! Yours was just a bit… early that's all!" Chansey searched for encouraging words. She found them in a pamphlet about pokemon training that she'd read some months ago. "The joy of being a pokemon trainer is to… Uh… overcome your obstacles as well as… H-having fun!"
"How would you know?" Agility hissed through clenched teeth.
"W-what?"
"How would you know how it feels to fail so early? Just when you think everything's all right something comes and kicks you down?"
"Well… I don't-"
"Exactly. Now you can go down to New Bark, get kicked, laughed at, teased, march the many miles all the way back up here with a psycho Cyndaquil who spreads rumors left and right, make a bad promise to a HootHoot, fight the battle of your life with someone who seems to be a good friend and then leaves when you need him most, realize you're in a rut at Cherrygrove, and then you can talk to me about how it feels and overcoming obstacles! I don't need to hear your counseling right now!"
Chansey backed away, hurt by her rant. "I was just trying to help…"
"Then leave me alone." Agility stated, her voice taking a pained tone.
Chansey stood still for a second, unsure of what to do. Then she walked back into the center. She came out a few minutes later with two blankets and a book.
"You know I can't leave you outside…" Chansey threw the blanket over Agility and covered herself with one. She set the book down to read.
Agility sobbed softly, clutching at the blanket. "Hope you brought a coat then."
Chansey shrugged. "It's not going to get that cold." The two of them left it at that. After a few moments silence, Chansey opened up her book on Pokemon Constellations and looked upwards to pick out the Seven Clefable Sisters from a cluster of shining stars.
Sunrise came later than usual, the day showing the soaring silhouettes of Pidgeys. The sun was slowly climbing in the air. Pyra chose to follow its example. The Cyndaquil gave an ungraceful snort and gazed at the sun, chest puffing out in pride.
"Great Fire, my eternal thanks! You have finally given me a sample of your power… And I will grow stronger and stronger and bring glory to you!" She looked away from the sun at some purple blanket that caught her eye. A pink lump—probably one of the Healer Chansey—and the body of her trainer… "Agility?"
Talon's pokeball rested on a chair. It made a faint movement before resting again. Pyra slammed against the chair, causing the dusty thing to topple over. Now the HootHoot was awake. She burst from her pokeball with a frantic flap of her wings, only calming when Pyra stomped the ground and ordered her to shut up. "What wrong, Fir- Pyra?"
"Something's wrong. Come, let's go see what happened." Talon followed Pyra with sharp nods, trying to stay behind her assumed leader yet hurry the pace a little. Pyra didn't seem to care that much, but the HootHoot was determined to help her out. There was a promise Agility had yet to fulfill.
Agility shivered from the cold, fingers grasping the soft blanket around her body. The smell of pancakes almost overwhelmed her. The Chansey who stayed with Agility during the night set down a decent stack of blueberry pancakes, some sausage, and a large pitcher of lemonade. Chansey smiled kindly as the trainer devoured the meal.
"Good morning to you, too…" The voice was tinged with sadness. She had been looking at the pathway to New Bark Town. "I-I guess this is the day you return to New Bark?"
"Yeah. Gonna give these pokemon to somebody who's capable of taking care of them. Pyra'll go to a nice trainer, and Talon… I may keep her. You know, as a companion. Or I could release her, or let her train. Yeah, I promised her that she'd be strong someday! That trainer could-"
"That trainer…" Chansey sighed.
Agility looked over to her. "What is it?"
"It's just- You keep talking about how some trainer's going to take care of your pokemon… You act like you've already found somebody to take them and you're certain that you're going back home."
"Well, that's because I am certain. And it shouldn't be hard to find somebody to take care of those two. They have a lot of potential, you know."
"Mmm… Hey, since you live in New Bark, what's that thing?" Chansey tried to change the subject and pointed to a steep rocky slope that, at its highest, looked over the entire area of New Bark.
"That's Silver's View. Everybody in New Bark knows that. It's got a great view over the entire town, and they celebrate Silver Day on it too."
"Silver Day?"
Agility stopped for a second, twirling her plastic fork around. "Yeah! It's named after this guy named Silver. I wasn't even around yet, but I know that there was a boy named Silver who left on his pokemon journey, right?" The trainer shoved another pancake in her mouth. "Well, he actually got to the Johto League and placed first there, and went off to Kanto to compete in their League too. It took him a few tries, but he placed first there too. Did you know he was the first trainer to accomplish that in New Bark?"
Chansey's face was unreadable. "…"
"After he returned to New Bark, everyone decided to make it a holiday in his honor. They say he sat on that cliff and thought about stuff, so they named it Silver's View in his honor. Pretty cool, huh?"
"…So, how many trainers from New Bark have done what Silver did?"
"Placed first in both Leagues…? Hey, now that you mention it… He's the only one!"
Chansey decided to leave the conversation alone after a last question. "And where's Silver now?"
"Don't know. They say after he stayed in New Bark for a while, the call to travel was too much and he left... He didn't come back after that, I-"
"Hey! What's with you? Are you hurt?" Pyra yelled as she ran out of the Center with Talon in tow. Chansey stood and collected the dishes Agility used. She sighed under her breath and trudged inside the Center.
"No. But listen… I've got something important to say." Agility said. "I'll be looking around for new trainer for you guys."
"What?!" Talon looked betrayed. "But you promised-!"
"I know, to make you strong. But I've got a reason, just hear me out for a sec-"
"You promised!" Talon repeated, voice carrying a hard edge. "You prom-"
"Talon, will you calm down? I may be passing you on but I am looking out for you." Agility placed her hands on her hips. This was going to be more difficult than she'd planned. "You're going to get a strong trainer, that I promise."
"Promise again?!" Talon glared at her. The HootHoot looked desperately at Pyra, who said nothing during the exchange. "Say something, yes? Make trainer like she was before!"
"Talon, come on!" Agility yelled, exasperated. Of all the times Pyra chose to get her opinion in, Talon wanted her to speak now more than ever. However, something deep inside her heart was glad that Pyra didn't talk. Talon didn't believe she'd like Pyra's answer. The HootHoot cast a resentful look at them both and began to hop away.
"Trainer is liar, yes… And Firebringer is traitor rat!"
Pyra reacted to this instantly. "Say that again."
"Bad listener, then! I say… Trainer is liar and Firebringer is traitor! You have problem?"
"Ungrateful squab…" Pyra began to heat up, the fire on her back lit and burning. Agility put up a hand.
"Wait Talon… Don't do this!"
The HootHoot didn't even look at her former trainer. "You say you not my trainer anymore, yes? You no can give orders, I not listen to liar!"
"Talon…" Agility whispered, hurt.
Pyra let out an enraged scream and sent forth a wave of embers to silence the HootHoot. Talon wasn't able to avoid the hit. She squawked in pain as her feathers caught fire. The Cyndaquil only looked on mercilessly.
"Remember, you… The weak are to follow the strong." Pyra allowed heavy, choking smoke to pour from her back. "I won't stand for insubordination… And for ignoring me, you shall burn!"